When Heroes Are Short On Victims...

The New York Post reports that a Bronx man might have been called the next [Wesley Autrey] (if Autrey rescued folks from burning buildings instead of oncoming trains). But there was a tiny snafoo in 24-year-old Victor Marte’s rise to heroic stardom: While he  did warn residents their building was on fire, and while he did rescue an elderly woman who might otherwise have met an unspeakable fate, [Marte also set the fire](http://www.nypost.com/seven/03262007/news/regionalnews/hero__was_a_horror_regionalnews_jamie_schram__tim_perone_and_marianne_garvey.htm) in the first place, and stabbed his ex-girlfriend, to boot. Police say Marte showed up at Daviana Gomez's apartment, his former flame, they argued, he punched her in the face and stabbed her twice in the left arm (not heroic behavior at all). Then he set her bedroom on fire and left Gomez in the fifth-floor apartment. The fire rapidly spread throughout the building, though Gomez was able to escape and call the cops. Marte, overcome my remorse or just a glutton for punishment, proceeded to bang on  her neighbors’ doors and yell, "Fire!" He even carried Gloria Edwards, 82, outside. Neighbors were quoted by the Post, one saying she felt “extremely angry” (she certainly doesn’t need therapy to get in touch with any latent rage). Marte was charged with arson, assault, robbery—oh yeah, ’cause he also stole from Gomez—reckless endangerment, unlawful imprisonment, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. That is a very long fall from knight in shining armor status.